Posted on 06/01/2026 9:45:04 AM PDT by Rummyfan
Pro Football Hall of Famer Raymond Berry, whose reliable hands were often found on the receiving end of passes from Johnny Unitas with the Baltimore Colts, has died at the age of 93.
Berry's family, in a statement released through the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Monday, said Berry died peacefully at home on May 25 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, while surrounded by family.
Berry played in the NFL for 13 seasons, all with the Colts, and was a six-time Pro Bowl selection who led the league three times in catches and yards and twice in touchdowns. He was a member of the NFL 100 all-time team, and his No. 82 was retired by the Colts. He also is a member of the Baltimore Ravens' Ring of Honor.
"Simply put, not only was Raymond Berry one [of] the greatest players in the history of the Colts, but he was one of the most influential and foundational players of the modern NFL," Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon said in a statement.
The Ravens, meanwhile, called Berry "a football icon" and added that "his impact on Baltimore sports and the NFL will endure forever," in their statement.
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.com ...
Astounding numbers for (1) a twelve game season and (2) in a run-first era.
Selected as a future choice by the Colts in the 20th round of the 1954 draft after catching only 33 passes in three seasons at SMU, Berry finished his NFL career in 1967 with a then-record 631 receptions for 9,275 yards, 68 touchdowns and -- a testament to his sure-handedness -- only one fumble.
And he was a 20th round draft pick... proving once again that nobody knows nothing.
Berry was Jerry Rice before Jerry Rice, and in an entirely different offensive era. RIP to one of the greats.
Supposedly, the two of them ended up arguing afterward about the one incomplete pass. Berry said Unitas overthrew the hall, and Unitas said Berry cut the route short. LOL.
Before Kansas City got a football team, the Baltimore Colts was the team I rooted for. Berry was one of those guys. RIP.
I remember he was a very good coach for the Patriots as well.
I grew up in Baltimore in the 50s and early 60s. I had two absolute heroes...Johnny Unitas and Brooks Robinson. I also had the pleasure of meeting Brooks on a few occasions and was amazed at how humble and accessible he was. My father attended the greatest NFL championship game against the New York Giants. He kept raving about Johnny U. and Raymond Berry and how they were unstoppable. On each side of the offensive line was Berry and Orr. Wonderful times that I will always cherish!
I wore his jersey number 82 when I played tight-end and wide-out. He was my football hero. IIRC, he recovered from a broken back to play pro football.
Still can’t believe they beat the Dolphins in the 1985 AFC Championship Game.
That was their first victory at the Orange Bowl since 1966.
And when just about every fan was rooting for a Dolphins - Bears Super Bowl as the Phish were the only team to beat the Bears that season.
And that Super Bowl debacle effectively ended Pats QB Tony Eason’s career.
Guy who was closest to him for qualties of precision was Raiders’ Fred Biletnikov, though he was a flanker
The Fish got squished.
He was a HOF player... His coaching was a sore point with many Patriots fans, especially his propensity for changing QB’s... He had an aging 5th round draft pick in QB Steve Grogan, a first round QB Toney Eason (who they picked ahead of Dan Marino) and a USFL player and 6th round pick in QB Doug Flutie.
Sadly... He played all three of them in one game.
They called them the Wimp Eason, the Gimp Grogan and the Shrimp Flutie.
None of them were hurt... He just changed them up like he was putting in new pitchers in a baseball game. He should’ve stuck with Eason who had lots of potential. Berry crushed his potential by constantly replacing him with Grogan every time he wasn’t playing well. Eason lost all of his confidence.
I remember chuck thompson calling the colts games - he would invariably say
that every time unitas completes a pass to Berry it sets a new nfl record
Wong coach (Malavasi was Super Bowl XIV). I meant Coach Joe Stydahar.
When football was actually football...
As far as I could tell Doug Flutie was a darn good quarterback in spite of his size.
Same here. Didn’t matter what age you were in Baltimore you had a Unitas flattop.
I heard Berry once wore out Unitas and 2 other passers working on the out and dragging his feet over the sideline.
My Dad and uncle went to NY on the train for The Championship Game in 58. On the way home, there was a guy with a green board. When asked he said he wanted a souvenir of the game and goth Big Daddy Lipscomb to sit on a bench and break it.
My uncle had a shrine to the Colts and Orioles around his bar in the basement of his row house.
I have a glove Brooks autographed the day he retired. I have another one he signed in Texas stadium. That was my gamer and Brooks told me, “You have too much oil on this glove.”
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